Iglesias to play 3-4 days a week with big-league club

Monday

Jun 10, 2013 at 5:26 PM

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It looks like Jose Iglesias is a big leaguer for good.

Tim Britton

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It looks like Jose Iglesias is a big leaguer for good.

Iglesias is slated to play roughly three or four times a week behind Will Middlebrooks and Stephen Drew, manager John Farrell said Monday. Utilityman Pedro Ciriaco was designated for assignment Monday when Middlebrooks was activated from the disabled list.

"Of course you want to play but bottom line, I'm happy to be here," said Iglesias. "[I'm] going to continue to work and improve and get better.''

Iglesias has obviously done more than acquit himself over his time in the majors this season, with a .446 average and .494 on-base percentage in 22 games (83 plate appearances).

"We're going to do everything we can to get him three days a week on the left side of the infield," Farrell said. "Everyone's aware of that going forward."

While Farrell said Iglesias wouldn't strictly platoon with Drew at shortstop, the manager did suggest that matchups will play a role in determining who will play when. Iglesias has hammered left-handed pitching so far this season, with 15 hits in 28 at-bats. Drew, meanwhile, is 10-for-55 against southpaws.

"We don't see Jose as strictly a utility guy," Farrell said. "To have that type of performance and that type of confidence available to us, it makes us better."

Farrell said the team weighed the pros and cons of keeping Iglesias long-term and decided it was better for the player and the team to have Iglesias with the major-league club.

"There's a lot of benefit to continuing to get exposure and experience at the big leagues versus going back to Triple-A," Farrell said. "Three days a week will not cause someone to go backwards in terms of their timing. The days in between his starts and the work he does now will be as important as the games he plays to stay sharp and stay ready to step in."

A part-time role is uncharted water for Iglesias, but he expects to be prepared.

"Never been in that position before, but I'll continue to work and get in my routine like I'm going to play in the game and be ready," he said. "If something happens, I'll be ready.''